As a dog trainer in Atlanta, I can honestly say that plenty of dogs who come my way don’t have dire problems such as aggression or refusal to housebreak—they just need some basic obedience training. This was the case with Ellie, a young Jack Russell Terrier whose owners were frustrated with her inappropriate greeting behavior. Ellie needed dog training!
When I arrived at my client’s home, Ellie met me at the door—jumping, nipping, and straining against her collar once her owner intervened. I was able to sit down, but when Ellie was free she made a beeline for me and repeated the behavior.
I put Ellie on a leash and her owners provided some chew toys so we could have a conversation, but the toys didn’t occupy her for long. Before long, she was trying to gain my attention again by jumping, barking, and nipping. As I ignored her, she grew increasingly frustrated and soon the nipping evolved to biting.
Each time the owners tried to scold her, either verbally or physically, Ellie would bare her teeth and growl. Rather than a calm, happy part of the family, Ellie had become stressed out and a major source of stress for her owners.
As a dog trainer in Atlanta, his is where I come in. I can help dogs and their owners gain a better understanding of one another and create a more comfortable environment for all parties.
Our first step was to lower Ellie’s anxiety level and encourage her cooperation. Her owners learned exactly how to speak to and handle her so she understood they were in the leadership position. This establishment of leadership is necessary and serves to provide dogs with a consistent, dependable environment, allowing them to relax and fall into a routine. With Ellie in particular, this worked very well to help curb her lack of impulse control.
Once we saw progress in this stage, the next step was to teach basic obedience commands and appropriate greeting behavior. The owners did a great job, handling Ellie appropriately and confidently, thereby giving Ellie the confidence she needed to succeed.
The last step to Ellie’s training could only occur when the owners and Ellie felt 100% sure of themselves and their ability to interact as a unit. I call this step “distraction training.” This involved testing Ellie and her owners’ ability to stay consistent and comfortable even in a noisy environment. We took her for walks in public places, chock-full of distractions. Because we took it slow and gave her every tool she needed to succeed, Ellie performed beautifully.
Ellie’s story has a happy ending. The owners were able to use the tools I provided to get their beloved pet’s behavior back on track.
If it worked for Ellie, it can work for you! I’m a professional dog trainer in Atlanta. I work with dogs of all ages, breeds and temperaments, and I’d love to talk with you about your dog. Please call me anytime at 800-649-7297 or use my contact form to get started!